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Take Back The Land (The Scottish Marseillaise)

from This Land is Our Land by Alan Dickson

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    This sampler EP showcases some of the songs from the Strains of Eden project. Devised and created by Scottish singer songwriter Alan Dickson it focuses on Scotland during the 18th and 19th centuries. Most of the songs in the series will appear for the first time. The project aims to make an important addition to the rich cultural heritage of Scottish life, and to raise awareness of this period in terms of informing debate about social and ecological concerns of today. For more information visit: www.strainsofeden.net

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about

Following years of crofter/cottar agitation in the Highlands over high rents, lack of security and access to land, the Crofters’ Act of 1886 was passed to try to address these grievances, though it didn’t go far enough. The lyrics were a response to this, and urged the crofters/cottars to renew their protests.

lyrics

Ye sons of Scotland, rise in union,
To set your native mountains free;
For wealth and greed, in base communion,
Enslave the land from sea to sea.
From lands that were their sires’ possession,
Behold, your neighbours are exiled;
Submission strengthens harsh oppression—
Shall Scotland be a forest wild?

Chorus
Brave sons of Scotland, rise!
Arise, and not in vain;
Drive out the sportsmen and their deer,
And claim your hills again!

Think how your brethren and their children
Are driven to a foreign shore;
Now drive out those who dispossessed them,
Recall them to their hills once more!
The price of land is fairly given
By paying twenty years of rent,
Yet many now from Scotland driven
Would pay thrice o’er and be content.

Chorus

“Give back the land,” cries Alexander,
Ah! no; ’tis given by God’s own hand;
Then let your battle cry be even grander—
Not “give,” ’tis yours; “take” back the land!
When sire and son have given rental
For holdings lairds now choose to clear.
This wrong is more than sentimental,
’Tis plunder without shame or fear.

Chorus

credits

from This Land is Our Land, track released March 25, 2015
Lyrics by Marion Bernstein - adapted by, and set to a tune by Alan Dickson

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Alan Dickson Glasgow, UK

Scottish singer songwriter Alan Dickson was born in Leith but now based in Glasgow. Alan writes about life in Scotland and beyond, mainly of a personal and political nature.

Descended from a Leith docker, he remarks: "as life mimics art I'm just like my grandfather, only he used a rivet gun and I use a guitar."

Among his influences are Robert Burns, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and Dick Gaughan. ... more

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